‘Cowardly’ attack after being sworn at: Victim kicked in the head in Limerick pub

A NEWCASTLE West man who punched and kicked a man in the head after six or seven double shots of vodka and Red Bull in a “cowardly” attack has been spared jail.

Limerick Circuit Court heard that before the assault in a pub there had been a “drunken conversation”, which the judge ordered media present not to report.

Paddy Philips, 22, of Lower Maiden Street, Newcastle West, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Strand pub, Newcastle West, on February 5, 2023.

Prosecutor Lily Buckley, instructed by State Attorney Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence with assistance from Garda Sharon Farrell.

Ms Buckley said the victim had been socialising in the Strand pub, went outside for a cigarette and the next thing he remembered was people trying to help him.

The lawyer said the victim suffered a broken nose, multiple fractures to the mid-face and is currently on the public waiting list for surgery for a fracture to his left orbit.

Garda Farrell said the injured party made a report the following day. Garda Farrell obtained CCTV information from the pub which she played in court for Judge Dermot Sheehan.

Mr Philips was arrested and made admissions to Gardai after CCTV footage was shown to him. He said he had drunk six or seven double vodkas and Red Bull.

Mr Philips said he was called a name, which cannot be reported, before punching the victim twice with his left hand. He said the victim called him by name again and “that’s why I kicked him with one foot”. Mr Philips told gardai: “It shouldn’t have happened. It was because of the drink. I’m sorry.”

Ms Buckley said the injured party did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

She said Mr Philips had 16 previous convictions: 11 traffic offences, two public order offences and three drug offences.

Defence counsel Kenneth Kerins, instructed by solicitor Michael O’Donnell, said: “We have all seen the CCTV footage – it is a serious matter.”

Mr Kerins asked Garda Farrell if she accepted Mr Philips being called a name. “Yes,” the garda said. The defence counsel said the name provoked his client before reading out a letter of apology from Mr Philips.

“I wish to sincerely apologise. I am not a violent man. I hope you will accept my apology,” read Mr Kerins, who added that Mr Philips had €2,000 in the court as a gesture of remorse.

The lawyer said his client pleaded guilty, answered all questions put to him by police and expressed remorse at the police station and in court.

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Judge Sheehan said the victim was extremely drunk and helpless.

“The accused punched the victim twice and kicked him with full force to the head when he was unable to defend himself. It was cowardly,” Judge Sheehan said.

The judge referred to the name by which Mr Philips was known, saying that no words spoken by a drunk man late at night in a bar could justify what had occurred.

Judge Sheehan said Mr Philips had no previous convictions relating to violence, had taken the matter seriously, had apologised at the Garda station and in court and was awarded €2,000 in compensation. Judge Sheehan said significant injuries had been suffered by a defenceless man “particularly from the kick to the head”.

He said it could be a case that warrants jail time and that he is aware of the injuries, but “something went wrong that night.”

The judge spoke about the “drunken exchange” between the victim and the accused.

“I am treating this as an isolated incident. I am not going to impose an element of custody,” said Judge Sheehan, who imposed a wholly suspended three-year prison sentence.

The judge told Mr. Philips, “Stay out of trouble.”